Retroesophageal right subclavian artery associated with a bicarotid trunk and an ectopic origin of vertebral arteries

Morphological Aspects of the Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery-A Systematic Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

The aberrant origin of the right subclavian artery (ARSA), also known as the lusoria artery, is a congenital malformation with an incidence of 0.5-4.4%. Most cases are incidental due to minimal clinical manifestations. Computer tomography (CT) is important in diagnosing and evaluating these patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conduct a computerized search in two databases, PubMed and EMBASE, for articles published between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2023, PROSPERO code: CRD42024511791. Eligible for inclusion were case reports and case series that presented the aberrant origin of the right subclavian artery. The main outcome was the highlighting of the morphological types of ARSA. In this context, we proposed a new classification system of this anomaly. The secondary outcome was the evaluation of the demographic distribution of the lusoria artery.

RESULTS

Our search identified 47 articles describing 51 patients with ARSA. The typical course for ARSA is retroesophageal, being registered in 49 out of 51 patients. This malformation is frequently associated with Kommerell diverticulum (15 out of 51), troncus bicaroticus (7 out of 51), and aberrant origins of the right vertebral artery (7 out of 51). We observed a higher incidence of the condition among women (32 out of 51) compared to men (19 out of 51). From a demographic point of view, ARSA is more frequent in the "44 to 57 years" and "58 to 71 years" age ranges.

CONCLUSIONS

ARSA is a congenital malformation resulting from a defect in the development of the aortic arches. The imaging studies such as computer tomography play a defined diagnostic role.

A bicarotid trunk with associated right retroesophageal subclavian artery in a child with neurofibromatosis type 1 complicated by a left hemispheric stroke

PURPOSE

To describe the association between two aortic arch branch variants and its possible relationship with neurofibromatosis-1.

METHODS

A 5-year-old female with NF-1 diagnosis presented to the emergency department at 2 months of age with irritability, vomiting and left gaze deviation. Brain MRI showed a left side acute hemispheric stroke and left internal carotid occlusion.

RESULTS

CT angiography of the neck showed the right and left common carotid arteries arising from a common vascular trunk coming from the aortic arch and a right retroesophageal subclavian artery.

CONCLUSION

Although the relationship between NF-1 mutation and aortic arch branch abnormalities has not been described, there is a recognized condition known as neurofibromatosis/Noonan syndrome which is an accepted variant of NF-1 with clinical features of both NF-1 and Noonan syndrome caused by dysregulation of the RAS-MAPK pathway. Aortic arch branch variations in patients with NF-1 could be explained by this association.

Right Aortic Arch with Bicarotid Trunk and Isolated Left Subclavian Artery: Hitherto Unreported Pattern

Variant arch anatomy may be seen associated with many congenital heart diseases. Its accurate preoperative identification is of paramount importance in optimal surgical planning of such cases. This case describes one such variant arch anatomy with two vessel right aortic arch, comprising of bicarotid trunk (giving rise to bilateral common carotid arteries) and right subclavian artery with isolation of the left subclavian artery, in a patient with tetralogy of Fallot. Right aortic arch with isolated left subclavian artery has already been described in association with tetralogy of Fallot. However, to the best of our knowledge, present arch pattern consisting of right aortic arch with bicarotid trunk and isolated left subclavian artery has not been reported in literature so far. Moreover, this case highlights the utility of multidetector computed tomography in accurate identification of variant arch anatomy in addition to delineation of cardiac and extracardiac details.

In-vivo imaging of a rare constellation of arterial variants: Aberrant subclavian artery, bicarotid trunk, and ectopic vertebral arteries

We report in-vivo imaging of a constellation of arterial variants found incidentally on CT-angiography in a 23-year-old woman presenting with an ischaemic stroke. This extremely rare combination includes a common origin of both common carotid arteries, an abnormal origin of the right vertebral artery (VA) from the right common carotid artery and of the left VA from the aortic arch, associated with an aberrant right subclavian artery. This constellation, previously described in a female cadaver, has not been reported in-vivo. Awareness of this configuration is crucial for radiological diagnosis and when performing angiography and endovascular or surgical procedures in thorax, head and neck, to avoid complications.

The spectrum of computed tomography findings in blunt trauma of the subclavian/axillary artery: a pictorial essay

Traumatic injuries of the subclavian and axillary arteries are uncommon but have high morbidity and mortality. In contrast to penetrating injuries, which are often lethal, blunt injuries present a wide and heterogeneous spectrum of imaging findings. If a vessel tear or transsection is a life-threatening circumstance, minor injuries might be overlooked in an emergency setting but could cause or aggravate the functional loss of a limb. The aim of this pictorial essay is to acquaint radiologists with the spectrum of imaging findings that could be encountered during the radiological evaluation of the subclavian/axillary artery (SAA) in trauma patients and offer tips and tricks to improve the diagnostic workup of patients with suspected blunt SAA injuries.

Aberrant right subclavian artery with right type 1 proatlantal artery and segmental dysplasia of the right internal carotid artery: a case report

PURPOSE

We present a case of an aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) with extremely rare vascular anomalies.

CASE REPORT

A 69-year-old woman was suspected to have right internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. Computed tomography angiography demonstrated an ARSA and hypoplasia of the right ICA. The proximal segment of the right vertebral artery (VA) was aplasia, and a right type 1 proatlantal artery (PA) arose from the right common carotid artery. Cerebral angiography demonstrated segmental dysplasia of the right ICA. The ascending intrapetrous segment and the ascending foramen lacerum-horizontal intracavernous segment of the right ICA demonstrated hypoplasia. The collateral pathways promoted reconstitution of each of the distal segments. Left internal carotid angiography demonstrated anterior communicating artery aneurysm and sufficient cross flow to the contralateral middle cerebral artery via the AcomA.

DISCUSSION

A type 1 PA with an ARSA may result in the regression of the right dorsal aorta with persistence of the first cervical intersegmental artery. Although there are few findings of a relationship between an ARSA and intracranial artery anomalies, a developmental error of the right dorsal aorta may cause such complex vascular anomalies.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of anatomical variations in patients with ARSA is useful when performing angiography or endovascular therapy, as well as during clinical follow-up.

Right vertebral artery arising from the right common carotid artery without association with an aberrant right subclavian artery and entering the C3 transverse foramen

The right vertebral artery (VA) rarely arises from the right common carotid artery (CCA); however, the majority of anomalous right VAs are seen in combination with an aberrant right subclavian artery (SA). Independent (or isolated) right VA of the right CCA origin is extremely rare, with only a few cases reported previously. We herein report an additional case diagnosed incidentally using computed tomography angiography. This patient had a left VA arising from the aortic arch between the origins of the left CCA and left SA. The bilateral VAs took an anterior course and entered the C3 transverse foramina, at an extremely high level.